President’s Message Volume 35 Issue 4

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday, it is one of my favorites. Thanksgiving comes without all the heavy expectations of other holidays, promising simply a good meal with the important people in your life. The premise is also a good one – reflection on what we can be thankful for. 

What makes me thankful? I am fortunate to have a profession where I can influence lives, contribute to the future, and work in a team. One of our star trainees who is going into Critical Care Medicine recently astutely pointed out how valuable that team experience is. When I come to the ICU, I see familiar, friendly faces in the staff and new faces in the many different residents and medical students who rotate through. Over the course of a week, I watch this team become ever more efficient. Although working in the right operating room environment might bring some of these experiences, they are never the same and are not as richly fulfilling. There is something even more special in the ICU environment. I get to see the looks in faces that tell me when a learning concept takes hold during one of my lectures. Teaching is such fun. Plus, I get to learn and I am thankful to be able to solve complex problems alongside a team of experts.

If you are reading this, you are with SOCCA, and you know what a great, like-minded group of people we are. Have you thought about getting more involved? If so, stay tuned: there will be calls for volunteers and nominations for the Board of Directors coming out soon. If you haven’t seen the fantastic work our volunteer groups do, have a look at our website or reach out to our subcommittee chairs for more information. We all have something to contribute. Communications, education, membership, research, and clinical practice are a few of the big headings, with more subgroups working under each. If you have been involved in these groups, consider applying to be a Director of the Society. We are a great group to hang out with at meetings, so why not spend more time with us year-round? I am very thankful for the great work all these groups accomplish for SOCCA.

In the meantime, take a few moments to be thankful for being part of a great profession and specialty. Enjoy the rest of the holiday season!